Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has become a common procedure worldwide. An expert consensus statement on catheter ablation for AF recommends the continuation of oral anticoagulants after the post-ablation period should be based on the patient’s risk of stroke and preferences; however, few recent large studies are focusing on the risks and benefits of continuing oral anticoagulation therapy after catheter ablation for AF.
Inhaled statins show promise as effective asthma treatment
Statins are a class of drugs commonly used to lower bad cholesterol, but can they also treat obstructive airway diseases, such as asthma?
Physicians investigate the effect of preoperative midazolam in older patients for the first time
Prof. Mark Coburn and PD Dr. Ana Kowark from the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) have conducted the largest randomized study to date on the effect of preoperative, orally administered midazolam in older patients. Placebo-controlled, the physicians revealed that midazolam does not impair patient satisfaction and safety when used in low doses. The results are published in JAMA Surgery.
World’s first reconstructive surgery on the central lymphatic system using a microsurgery robot
Because it was not possible to remove a hard-to-reach bulge in the central lymphatic system, a team of doctors from the Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery at the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) created a new drain to relieve the patient’s agonizing lymph congestion. For the first time, a microsurgical operating system was used for such a procedure.
Does ‘belongingness’ matter in the health professions?
Hannah Lauck hopes to someday become an anesthesiologist specializing in pediatrics.
Emergency department visit rate 72.2 per 1,000 adults with diabetes in 2020 to 2021
In 2020 to 2021, the emergency department visit rate was 72.2 visits per 1,000 adults with diabetes, with the rate increasing with age, according to a December data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Benidipine calcium channel blocker improves cigarette smoke-induced lung emphysema: Study
A new research paper titled “Benidipine calcium channel blocker promotes the death of cigarette smoke-induced senescent cells and improves lung emphysema” has been published in Aging.
Vertigo: A common symptom with many different causes
The first step in treating vertigo is understanding its cause. Many conditions can trigger vertigo an expert says.
Social determinants of health needs more likely for patients with emergency department encounters
Patients with emergency department encounters are more likely to screen positive for social determinants of health (SDOH) needs, according to a research letter published online Dec. 19 in JAMA Network Open.
Kidney dysfunction linked to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Mild and moderate kidney dysfunction are associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), according to a study published online Nov. 27 in ESC Heart Failure.